John Besley

I've always wanted one... back in the day when I modeled in 4mm.... but in 7/8ths... that's going to mean I need a bigger boat layout

And me and this year I've arranged for a bank holiday for everyone so they can celebrate as well, the one this week was a practice run for the great event

Reminds me of the Franklin and South Manchester Cityscape, not something you see that often, makes a change from rolling hills and trees - neat

Love this thread, so much to learn from others.... can anyone help me I need a drawing (or dimensions) of an A4 chime whistle as I need to make a pattern for a traction engine rebuild I am about to embark on converting a pair of Wilesco Traction engines into a model of Fowler "Talisman" Anyone near the RH&DR as some of their locos have A4 whistles

Talking of concept HST's go way back in the imagenary locomotive topic there is a very clever graphic concept one of a Deltic HST set, as well as a older LNER set in various livery from LNER through early BR to 1980's network liverys

Stunning, looks so much better on the layout.

I have the same issue withe the grandkids when they visit...

Looking at your avatar I can understand your question... try some different glasses 😃

Think the AU through further tenders would have been converted to 8 wheel for express engines such as Brits', Clans, Class 5 - the rest in the main keeping 6 wheel tenders. The WD would have been shopped to update them including a BR standard cab, All locos fitted with electric lighting in particular under the running plate to aid prep work - same as DB locos. Further BR standards as proposed before would have been built phasing out older classes, all the Bullied's rebuilt The 71000 'The Dukes' became very powerful locos once the initial problems where resolved (as we know) they also following an experiment by borrowing an A4 corridor tender had 8 wheel corridor tenders allowing non stop running with crew changes. All the 8 wheel tenders had buckeye couplings fitted with the drop link as on BR MK1 coaches

In my AU steam carried on onto the 90's due to the sky high price of diesel fuel coupled with economical coal extraction by NCB. This woukd lead to modern loco depots, mechanical Ash disposal - been done before but reinvented, I think there was at least one new steam depot built after WW2... Intresting to see what comes up as workable ideas ...

Having said which a large 'what if' type layout would be intresting - modern buildings, 1980 Road vehicles and modified or reinvented BR standards ... 4-8-2, 2-8-2 tank engines or 0-8-0T shunter - livery modified version of BR blue .... Mk 2 coaches, air braked locos to run block MGR trains... Wonder what the paying public would think at an exhibition, defiantly any the rivet counter...

I remember the backstreets of LM two children begging in rags both touched by a burning ambition... Now that's a classic 👌

It looks like the far right No3 is the smallest, an internal sniff around is about to happen judging by the said occupant heading inside to check things over..

Fitting CDL is fine but how are the those who don't understand a Mk1 going to open the doors?

I think there was more than one accident where the crew had been 'forgotten' and when the road got pulled off carried on up the line only to been run into the back by a late running Express in the dark... Hawes Jct springs to mind Advisable to read LTC Rolt Red for Danger to get a background of how the railways evolved from tragedies... I have always said that it should be required reading for anyone contemplating working on the footplate, in particular Abermule... There is a YouTube video of a Footplate crew on a preserved railway (I wont say where) where the fireman doesn't check the staff / token and promptly hangs it up without referring to the driver as far as I can tell. When I was on the SDR I always confirmed with my driver the correct staff had been given to me irrespective of our being the only engine in use, just supposing I had the wrong one and we couldn't unlock the frame at Totnes to run round...